Sri Lanka in Australia Dec-Jan 2012/13

[midgetwars]

So Johnson's back now? Great... It's the attack from the Ashes from nearly 2 years ago.

Why the hell isn't Starc, the guy that got 60ish and 6 wickets isn't playing? Johnson's good, but Starc is better. He'll fit in right with the 2 senior bowlers of Hilf and Siddle.

Hmm...

Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Wade, Hussey. 5 of the 7 are left handers.

 

[aussie1st]

Starc is there, 12 man squad with one bowler to miss out.

 

[aussie1st]

"We felt that for the South African series that Quiney was the right man," Inverarity said. "We look to Phil Hughes to be one of our players of the future, a real long-term player, so when we were considering the South African series we were very keen for Phil Hughes to come in when his form was absolutely right, and the right circumstances for him.

"We did feel that throwing him into the Tests against the world No. 1 with their attack was probably not the ideal set of circumstances for him, and we feel the time now is absolutely right for him. We needed to be convinced that his game was absolutely cherry ripe. It was just recently at the MCG that he got a big hundred [158 for SA v Victoria] and I think that was further proof that he's in absolutely the right place.

Sri Lanka in Australia, 2012-13 : Phillip Hughes chosen to replace Ricky Ponting | Cricket News | Australia v Sri Lanka | ESPN Cricinfo

Don't like this hiding Hughes from SA one bit, all it means is we are taping over the cracks which England will happily expose if the tape used was of dodgy quality.

 

[midgetwars]

Damn, Doolan gets 6.

Nice for Khawaja 56.

Henry (whoever the hell he is) 172

Maxwell 91 off 77. Pretty good.

 

[aussie1st]

Henry aka the rare young NSW batsmen who isn't being talked up. Had a dam average start to his career but seems to have come of age in his latest stint.

Maxwell certainly looks a talent, if he and Warner are in the same team then there could be some serious fireworks.

 

[midgetwars]

I still don't understand how Johnson after months of injury and a sub par performance is automatically chosen ahead of Starc and Hilf.

Very odd choices by the selectors. If Hilf loses the battle with Starc we go in again with two left wild armers.

 

[aussie1st]

Just read the articles, geez our selectors never learn. Johnson always goes well in Perth.

 

[Umair7]

Perhaps I'll regret asking this question, but you've mentioned it 3 times now...what the hell are you referring too??

Well i am starting to hate Wade he has dropped some crucial catches + he isn't contributing with the bat Haddin is better in my opinion

 

[sifter132]

I'm not a particular fan of Wade either - especially with his constant oohhs and aahhhs behind the stumps for things that aren't even close ..., but I'll give him a bit more time. He deserves a summer in the job to see how he goes on home turf. I'd love if Haddin and Paine put pressure on him with Shield performances.

I still don't understand how Johnson after months of injury and a sub par performance is automatically chosen ahead of Starc and Hilf.

Very odd choices by the selectors. If Hilf loses the battle with Starc we go in again with two left wild armers.

Perhaps I was watching the Perth match through Johnson tinted glasses...it's possible ...but I really thought he was the best of the Aussie bowlers. Starc got the returns in the end by ripping out the tail, but for most of the match his lengths were poor - and it was Starc that copped the most hammering on that fateful 2nd evening where the match slipped away in Perth. I think Starc was 10 overs for 76 at stumps, Johnson had 7 overs for 30-odd.

And Hilfenhaus only got ONE early wicket all series (Smith at Adelaide), the others of his came at the end of the innings vs the tail or guys batting with the tail. Hardly a world beating performance.

So to say that Starc and Hilf are somehow more deserving than Johnson based on performances this summer seems ambitious to me.

don't like the inclusion of Philip Hughes in the test side.........this guy will struggle against rangana herath & co...
@Aussi selectors:-What are you people waiting for?pick Alex Doolan or Micheal Klinger for the longer version

I'm not sure Doolan would have even FACED a spinner of Herath's quality.

Shielding Hughes from SA is a bit of a messy way to pick him, but in the end it's probably the right way to do it - just not sure Inverarity should have told the world about it.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

remember how australia said a while back they were looking for their ian bell?

it looks they've got their man in phil hughes.

 

[midgetwars]

Spot the Opener

Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson. A bit too much I think and if you wanna include ODIS and T20s, Hussey and Wade can be added and I think Clarke was a good opener for a while.

 

[spooony]

Spot the Opener

Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson. A bit too much I think and if you wanna include ODIS and T20s, Hussey and Wade can be added and I think Clarke was a good opener for a while.

Hussey didn't do too well against a new ball. Don't think Clarke will do either against fresh bowlers.

 

[aussie1st]

Thank God they have made Johnson 12th man.

 

[War]

Its funny to think that the last time sri lanka beat australia in a test match was that test in kandy 99, when s waugh & gillespie had that horrific injury.

 

[spooony]

Well i am starting to hate Wade he has dropped some crucial catches + he isn't contributing with the bat Haddin is better in my opinion

Haddin contribution better? The same Haddin who try and slog thabll when Australia were something like 20/6? The same Haddin who did not realise 20/6 in innings was actually 200/6 in the match?